Inking apparatus for printing-presses



Patented .lune I3, 1899.

W. SCOTT.

INKINGAPPARATUS FOB PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application med oec. 25, 189m 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patendflefj June I3,v |899. W. SCOTT.

INKING APPARATUS FUR PBlNTliN-G PRESSES.

(Application med oct. 25, 189s.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modl.)

. ili.

.AIL

@M mom.

ca/@M am@ 1m: mams versus co. maro-uws. wnsnmuron, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVALTER SCOTT, OF PLAINFIELD, NEV JERSEY.

INKING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,872, dated J' une13, 1899.

Application iiled October 25, 1898. Serial No. 694,499. (No'model.)

T0 all zul/1,0m it may concern.-

Beit known that LW'ALTER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residingat Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,

have invented an Improvement in Inking Apparatus for PiintingPi-esses,of which the following is a specification.

In inking apparatus upon printing-presses the ductor-roll has beenapplied so as to convey the ink from the roller in the ink-trough to thedistributing-rollers over an ink-table uponthe reciprocating bed, andthis reci proeating bed has passed between the distribnting-rollers andthe ink-trough, said inktrough being below the bed.

Inmyapplication Serial No. 639,255 I have represented a straight rackand gearing driving both sets, the type-inking rollers being drivendirectly from the rack and the distributingrOllers being driven by atrain of straight gearing engaging teeth on the under side of the rack.

I have found that by introducing a pinion that is suliiciently long toengage the teeth on the upper part off'the rack and also to engage agear-wheel it is not necessary to have a second range ot' teeth on theunder side of the rack.

In the present invention the ductor-roll is stopped by the action of abrake after it leaves the roll of the ink-distributing group and beforeit comes in contact with the ink-roll in the ink-trough, so that theductor-roll is not rotating, and hence does not take off an unduequantity of ink from the ink-roll in the trough; but such ductor-rollsimply turns by the contact with it of the ink-roll in the trough whilesuch ink-roll is being moved the proper distance for supplying theproper quantity of ink for each movement of the parts.

It is important to be able to regulate with accuracy the quantity of inksupplied each complete movementoitheparts. Otherwise theimpression iseither too dark or not dark enough. lVith this object in view I make useof an adjustable device that holds the ductor-roll from contact with theink-roll in the trough for a greater orY less portion of the movement ofsuch ink-roll, so that when but a small quanti'ty of inl: is requiredthe ductor-roll is only allowed to touch the ink-roll during a smallportion of the movement of such ink-roll, and

where a larger or maximum quantity of ink is required the d uctor-rollis allowed to come in'contact with the inking-roll immediately upon itsmovement by the arm, so as to remain in contact with the ink-ro1l duringthe entire movement that is given thereto, so as to transfer to theductor-roll the maximum quantity of ink for each movement of the parts.

In moving the ductor-roll rapidly from the ink-fountain roll to the setof ink-distributing rolls the inertia is liable to cause the ductor-rollto impinge upon the first roll in the group of ink-distributers, and ifthe ductorroll is revolving when it contacts with a stationary roll, orthe reverse, the elastic composition on the roll is liable to injury, sothat the surface becomes rough and uneven. To prevent injury, theductor-roll is brought into contact with a distributing-roll when thelatter is stationary, or nearly so, and the ductorroll is stationary, ornearly so, when contacting with the ink-fountain roll, so that the twocan be turned together in transferringthe ink. In the drawings, Figurelis a diagrammatic side elevation showing a portion of the press toindicate the positions ofthe present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan viewat one end vof th'e press and one side of the bed and frame. Fig. 3 is aseparate elevation of the devices acting in connection with theductorroll. Fig. L tshows one end of the dnctor-roll and the brakeapplied to its shaft. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at the line 5 5,Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section of the rack and elevation edgewise of thegears therewith connected, and Fig. 7 is a detached diagram of the barand pins on theshaft of the ink-roller.

The framework A is of any desired character, and the bed B isreciprocated by suitable means, and upon one edge thereof is a rack eachprovided with the gears a b, the former of which engages the rack O andthe latter'is upon the intermediate roll c, and this communicates motionto the composition rolls d, that apply ink to the types, and the upperroll e rests upon the roll c. These parts being of usual character donot require further description. n

The pinion E engages the teeth of the rack O and isvlonger than thewidth of the rack, so that it also engages the gear-wheel F, which C,andthe groups D D of inking-rolls are IOO is at the side of the bed andgives motion to the wheel G in the 'train of straight gearing thatterminates with the wheels II Il', that drive the rolls I I', which movethe composition distributing-rolls K K, which rest upon the ink-table Lupon the bed B,- and it will be seen that this train of gearing givesmotion to the composition distributing-rolls K K in the same directionand at a corresponding speed to the movement of the bed I3 and inktableL, and when the bed reaches either end the movement of the rolls ceasesand then they are started again in the opposite direction upon thereturnmovement of the bed, and it is usual to provide a roll M above therolls K K and resting in contact with them and receiving an end motionto aid in distributin g the ink. These devices being well known are notrepresented to prevent confusion of the parts.

The ductor-roll N is mounted in arms N on the rock-shaft O, so as to becarried bodily between the roll I and the roll f to transfer the inl;from the ink-fountain P to the roll I.

I remark that the ink-fountain P and its roller f are of any desiredcharacter and they are usually located below the bed, so that the bed Bin reciprocating passes over the inlifountain to a greater or lessdistance, and to move the roller N from Vone position to the other therock-shaft O receives motion at the proper time from the lever-arm Q andconnecting-rod Q', leading to the lever Q2, that'` is acted upon by thecam Q3, and these parts for moving the ductor-roll in the particularsthus far described are similar to those set forth in my applicationSerial No. 639,255.

The cam Q3 is shaped substantially as represented in Fig. l for thepurpose of moving the ductor-roll N rapidly from contact with theink-roll up to nea-r the roll I, and then the said ductor-roll N ismoved up gradually and comparatively slowly toward the roll I until suchductor comes into contact with the roll I, the object being to raise theductor above and out of the way of the ink-table and to allow the roll Iby its rotation to start the rotation of the duetor-roll without unduestrain, thereby preventing `in jury to the roll, which is usuallycomposition, and in such a manner as to spread the ink from theductor-roll as evenly as possible upon the roll I, and this cam Q3 holdsthe roll N in contact with the roll I for about a quarter of therotation of the cam, the movement given to the ductorroll to carry itbodily into contact with the ink-fountain roll being given at the timethe reciprocating bed and ink-table have been moved away from thedistributing-rolls K K, and then the ductor-roller N is brought up abovethe bed before the end ofthe bed reaches such ductor-roll upon itsreturn movement. The ductor-roll can be left in contact with one of thedistributing-rolls any desired length of time, according to the shape ofthe cam.

lVhen the ductor-roll N leaves the roll I, such d nctor-roll isrevolving at the same surface speed as the roller I, and if theductor'-` roll were allowed' to continue its movement until it came intocontact with the ink-roll in the ink-trough such ductor-roll`would beinjured or not take the proper volume of ink from the ink-roll in thetrough, and the composition surface of the roll is also liable toinjury. To prevent this and to allow the ductor-roll only to turn withthe ink-roll in the trough when these rolls are in contact, I provide abrake for stopping the rotation of the ductor-roll after it leaves theroll I and before reaching the roll f in the ink-trough. With thisobject in view I apply a brake R, one end of which slides between guidesupon the arms N and has a brake-surface 5, projecting beneath and cominginto contact with the shaft of the ductor-roll N, and there is a cam Radjustably supported upon the frame of the machine and standing outtherefrom sufficiently far for the brake-bar R to be in line with it,and there is upon this cam R a projection 6, located at the proper pointso that it acts upon the brake-barR immediately after the armsiN'commence to move by the action of the rock-shaft, so that thebrakesurface 5 is pressed against the surface of the ductor-roll shaftto apply the force for stopping the same immediately after B separatesfrom I, and the end of the brake-rod/R, separating from the cam 6 beforethe Vductorroll comes into contact with the ink-fountain roll, allowsthe ductor-roll to be turned if rcel y by contact with the ink-*fountainroll.

At the end of the ink-fountain roll is a ratchet-Wheel 7, and the cam S,lever S', link S2, arm T, and gear-sector T' give motion to theink-fountain rollf'progressively, the sec tor T acting upon a gear 8,carrying a pawl 9, that acts upon the ratchet-wheel 7, so that theink-fountain roll receives a definite movement for each completemovement of the parts of the press, and I remark that the usual knife orscraper is provided for regulating the quantity of ink allowed to remainupon the fountain-roll.

It will be noticed that the cam Q3 has a central portion 20, that bringsthe ductor-roll N into contact with the distributingroll I, and theprojection 2l or 22 causes the ductor N to separate from the roll I, andthe groove in the cam Q3 is wide enough to allow the ductorroller todescend by gravity and come into contact with the fountain-roll j', andduring this movement the cam R has acted on the brake and stopped therotation of the .duc tor N.

It is dificultto supply to the ductor-roll exactly the amount of inkrequired in inking forms. If too much ink is provided, the form orprinting-surface will become filled with ink and the impressionimperfect, and if too little ink .is supplied the impression will not bedark enough. I provide the means next described for regulating thequantity of ink transferred by the ductor-roll from the inkfountain rollto the ink-distributers.

IOC;

IIO

In starting up the press especially it is important to be able to give arotation to the fountain-roll in order to bring all parts of its surfaceinto intimate andA uniform contact with the ink in the trough., and withthis object in view I use a shaft U with a handle U', and this shaft Uis in line with the axis of the fountain-roll, and there are upon theend of the shaft or upon the ratchet-wheel 7 pins 10, the back surfacesof which are beveled similar to latches, and there is a cross-piece 11at the end of the shaftU and also beveled, which shaft and cross-piececan be pushed in'between the pins 10 to give motion tothe shaft andductor-roll as the shaft U is revolved by the handle U; but when thehandle U' is not in use it will hang down and the bevels upon the backsof the pins 10 and upon the crosspiece will act to push the cross-pieceand shaft U endwise, so as to separate the cross-piece 1l from the pins10 and allow the ductor-roll to be 'turned progressively by the actionof the gear-sector, ratchet, and pawl as the cam S gives motion to thegear-sector T'. This shaft U is within a sleeve V, that has upon itsinner end the wheel 8 and the pawl 9, and this wheel 8 is hollow forcontaining the crosspiece 11, and around the sleeve V is the wheel V2,which is fastened firmly to the sleeve and receives its motiontherefrom. Around this sleeve V isa cam-ring V', the surface of which iscomposed of approximately half-circles of different diameters united byinclines, andA upon the cam-ring is a spring detent or dog 13, whichengages one of the notches in the wheel V2. Hence by drawing back thespring-dog 13 the cam-ring V can be turned around into any desiredposition upon the sleeve V, and this cam-ring by the action of thespring-dog moves along with the sleeve as it is oscillated by the actionof the gear-sector T', and the cam-ring is in line with an adjustablestop let upon an arm N2, that is upon the rock-shaft of the ductor-roll,and in adjusting the parts the cam-ring V' may be turned so that theportion that is of larger diameter is beneath the stop 14; as theductor-roll is swung toward the ink-roll, and hence suchcam-ring willhold the ductor-roll from contact with the ink-roll and prevent thetransfer of any ink, and, on the other hand, the cam-ring may be movedaround into such a position that the ductor-roll will not be supportedby it, but

, will come down against the fount-roll and remain in contact therewithduring its entire partial rotation, thereby causing a maximum transferof ink from the ink-fountain roll to the d uctor-roll, and by adjListing the cam-ring V" to any desired intermediate position theductor-roll can be held from contact with the fountain-roll for agreater or less period of time as the sleeve and parts are turned ingiving motion to the ink-fountain "roll, and it will be understood thatas the portion of the cam-rin g which is of greatest diameter moves awayfrom beneath the adjustable stop 14 the ductor-roll will descend andcome into contact with the fountain-roll and move along with it duringthe remainder of its partial rotation and receive from suchfountain-roll the proper quantity of-ink, and then the ductorroll willbe moved by the arms up above the bed and in contact with thedistributing-roll I. It will be apparent that the parts of this inkingapparatus are to be properly timed according to the objects to beaccomplished. If the ductor-roll is moved away from Contact with one ofthe ink-distributing rolls at the time the bed of the machine is mostdistant and the rolls have stopped, or nearly so, before commencing tomove in the other direction, there is not always the desired length oftime for the ductor-roll to be moved into contact with the ink-fountainroll and the two to turn'together as the ink-fountain roll is moved. inthe ink-fountain and then for the ductorroll to be moved up out of theway before the ink-table reaches that end of its motion.

To be sure of having the necessary time for the movements, it isgenerally preferable t-o employ the brake heretofore described, so as toseparate the ductor-roll from the ink-fountain roll'and stop it on itsmovement toward the ink-fountain roll while the bed is moving away fromthe ductor-roll toward the other end of the press, and hence there istime enough to transfer the ink from the ink-fountain roll to theductor-roll and bring that up above the bed, and then the ink-table canmove under the ductor-roll and the bed stop and then commence to move inthe other di- ,rection just at the time the ductor-roll is IOO IIO

table and then to bring it into contact with l the ink-distributing rollat the proper time, so that the fresh ink does not reach the inktableuntil such ink has been thoroughly distributed upon the rolls. I do notlimit myself to any particular num- 'ber of ink-distributing rolls orcharacter of sary to duplicate the parts before described at the twoends of the ductor-roll.

It is to be understood that the devices for vibrating some of theink-distributing rolls endwise and also rolls in the groups ofinking-rolls may be of any usual or desired character, and the manner ofsupporting and` adjusting these rolls and giving .end motion to l. Thecombination inaprinting-press with the reciprocating bed and form-inkingrolls j and ink-distributing rolls, of a rack upon one i side of thebed, gearing for giving motion., from the rack to the form-inking rolls,a i

train of straight gearing adjacent to the side of the bed and givingmotion to the distrib- 5 uting-rolls, and a pinion engaging the rack fand also engaging the first Wheel in the train f for giving motion tosuch train, substantial ly as set forth.

2. The combination with the distributingrolls and the ductor-roll andthe arms for the i same and mechanism for moving the duetorroll from thedistributing-roll to the inkfount roll, of a brake upon one of the armscarrying the ductor-roll and means for moving such brake at the propertime to arrest the rotation of the ductor-roll after it separates fromthe distributing-roll, substantially r as set forth.

3. The combination with the distributingrolls and the ductor-roll, ofarms and a crossshaft carrying the ductor-roll, a brake and a slidingbar upon one of the arms and a stai end movement to the shaft,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination With the ink-fountain and its roller, of a sector andpinion and an intermediate paWl and ratchet-Wheel for giving motion tothe ink-fountain roll and a; shaft'in line with the axis of thefountain- 2 roll, a crank for turning the same and a crossbar upon theend of the shaft and pins beveled on one side for engaging the cross-barin giving motion by band to the ink-fountain;` roll and by which theparts separate auto-' matically by the bevcls of the pins givingendmotion to the shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the ductor-roll and Y its arms and rock-shaftand the ink-fountain 1 and its roll; of a cam-ring moving With theink-fountain roll and a projection upon one of the rock-shaft armscoming into contact with the cam-ring and by which the ductorroll iskept from contact with the ink-foun- Q tain roll during a portion of themovement of the ink-fountain roll, substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination with the ductor-roll and its rockshaft and arms andthe ink-fountain and its roll, of an oscillating device for giving aprogressive motion to the ink-fountain roll, a cam-ring adjustablyconnected with the oscillatin g device and serving to varrest theductor-roll and keep it from contact with the inking-roll during aportion of the progressive movement of the ink-fountain roll,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the ductor-roll, its arms and shaft and theink-fountain roll and a ratchet-Wheel upon its shaft, of a ,pawl forgiving motion to the ratchet-Wheel, a separate shaft and clutchmechanism for connecting the same to the fountain-roll, a sleeve aroundthe shaft andl carrying the pawl, a cam-ring around the sleeveadjustable in its position and a spring-dog for holding the camring whenadj usted and regulating the contact of the ductor-roll with theink-fountain roll, substantially as setforth.

9. The combination in a press with a reciprocating bed, ink-table,distributing-rollers y and inking-roller, and means for communieatingvthe same surface speed to the rollers as the table, of an ink-ductorrol1er,inktrough and roller and means for moving the ductorroller intocontact with one of the distribut` ing-rollers at about the time themovement of the bed is reversed and the rollers are quiescent,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination in a printing-press with the reciprocating bed,inking-rolls, a table upon the bed and ink-distributing rolls, anink-trough and its roll, of a ductor-roll and means for moving the samefrom the inl;- trough roll to one of the ink-distributing rolls at theend of the movement of the bed, when the rollers are quiescent, ornearly so, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with the distributingrolls and the ductor-roll andarms for the same, and mechanism for moving the ductorroll from thedistributing-roll to the ink-fount roll, of a brake on one of the armscarrying the ductor-roll and a cam for moving the brake and `causing itto act upon the shaft of the ductor-roll for arresting its rotation,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination With the reciprocating bed and ink-table and anink-fountain and its roll below the bed and means for moving the sameprogressively, and the set of inl;- distributing rolls, of a ductor-rolland means for moving'the same into Contact .with the ink-fountain rolland then carrying such ductor-roll rapidly toward the set ofink-distributing rolls and then lessening its movement before contactwith one of such ink-distributing rolls, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination in a printing-press with the reciprocating bed,inking-rolls, a ta- IOO IIO

' of an ink-fountain. and roll and a ductor-roll and means for movingthe same laterally from Contact with the ink-fountain roll and intocontact with the distributing apparatus at the time the movement of thebed is being reversed, so that the inkingsurfaces are stationary ornearly so, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 20th day of October, 1898.

p p WALTER SCOTT. p

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY,

S. T. I-IAVILAND.

